Because Everything is Prettier in Pink...

...don't you think?!  This photographer won me over with the serge mouille floor lamp, zebra rug, and layers of vintage frames over bright pink walls.  Getting a peek at J.Crew's spring collection isn't bad either. I'm obsessed.

ralph lauren paint in sedona pink / silver leaf gallery frame  / jayson home and garden antique gilt frame / serge mouille three-arm floor lamp  / john derian dromedary loveseat / saarinen low oval coffee table  / zebra hide rug / anthropologie flokati diamonds rug

Smitten | Katie Ridder Rooms

I have long been a fan of Katie Ridder -- I mean, honestly, who did not love her candy-colored living room design that graced the cover of Elle Decor back in 2008 -- so I'm just dying to get my hands on her soon to be released book, Katie Ridder Rooms.  There is much that I admire about Katie's work. She has an amazing sense of color and a keen eye for detail which, I think, makes her rooms feel layered and full of life.  Based on the preview (available here) and the images above, I have a feeling this book is going to be good, reallll good.

(Images by Eric Piasecki)

Feast Your Eyes

In case you are wondering how to dazzle your dinner guests this fall, feast your eyes on this...

A rustic yet refined table setting featured in the November issue of Martha Stewart.  The gold flatware alone is completely stunning but add to that soft gray harvest baskets filled with a bounty richly hued veggies and potted purple cabbage, turnips holding votives and brussel sprouts used as salt cellars and it's enough to knock this design blogger out cold from visual delight.  Care to join me?  You can find a few of the pieces used in Martha's masterpiece below... 

  linen for tablecloth by b & j fabrics / soapstone candlesticks by canvas / harrow stemmed wine goblet by canvas / nature's canvas sandstone dinner plate by wedgewood / domino gold cutlery by canvas / angle edge chopping board by canvas / tolix a chair via conran shop

Design Hunter | Antiques + Modernism Winnetka

I'm so happy I ventured north this Saturday to check out the Winnetka Antiques + Modernism Show!  I always love going to local antique shows and stores and seeing what's available – it's a great way to learn about different periods of design and art. The show had an extensive inventory of beautiful objects ranging from the 17th century to the mid 20th century.  It was the perfect mix of traditional and modern. 

I sent my client in Maine a snapshot of the trellis table pictured above.  I'm hoping she likes it as much as I do – the worn finish reminds me of old lobster crates.  Below are a few more of my favorite find... 

I have a soft spot to simple contour figure drawings.

Deluxe NY had an amazing collection of vintage Chanel jewelry and unique 20th century accessories....I pretty much wanted everything!

Tortoise shells and American industrial tools at Thistle.

Lee's Antiques always has great Italian, French and American vintage and antique pieces.  The lantern, sconce and yellow folding screne all caught my eye. 

If this vintage gilt wheat sheaf sconce had a matching mate...they would have come home with me! 

I bought this set of vintage candlesticks from Arch. Vintage.  Anyone care to share a good resource for taper candles – I need petite black ones? 

Texture

This Madrid apartment is seriously chic.  Every surface has an understated and stylish take on texture. The grasscloth wallpaper, the rustic burlap curtains, the charcoal velvet sofa and the fur rug all contribute to this luxe but affordable look. Apparently many of the items are from Zara Home. My favorite piece is that rusty, burnt orange mongolian lamb furl pillow. God I hope they open a Zara Home in Chicago.  Who's with me? 

(Images via)

Mad About Hue | Yellow, Green + Turquoise

What sounds like a completely awful color palette is really quite nice, don't you think?  I'm working on a project right now that has required me to think outside my sometimes boring color box.  My client's one request?  Design a room around Anthropologie's buttery yellow Atelier Chesterfield sofa.  Yup.  A big, expensive, yellow sofa. 

My first instinct?  Go neutral. You know, grey, black, white, yellow (à la Jenna Lyons).  But the more I thought about it the more I realized that yellow compliments many other colors quite nicely.  Above are four rooms that I keep referring back to for color inspiration.  Which on is your favorite?

(Images: Robert Passal, Nate Berkus, Vogue)

My Home

Hello, hello!  I just got home from a stressful and eventful weekend!  Why the lack of post last week?  Well, I was helping my boyfriend, whom I just recently moved in with, pack up his things and move to D.C.  Less than a month ago he got an amazing job offer out there that he just couldn't pass up.  It all happened so fast that we had very little time to plan, so for now, I am going to stay in Chicago and continue to live in our fabulous River North apartment.

So with that said, I thought I would share some pictures that I took of our place before people came over for Paul's going away party.  When we found this place it was love at first sight so the past few weeks have been very bittersweet.  I'm not sure what the future brings but we hope to be reunited soon.  So for now, I'm just going to enjoy living here while it lasts!

I'll Take it...

Um how amazing is this kitchen? I spotted it on Christine's always glamorous blog Bijou and Boheme and instantly added it to my dream home file. Quadrille's Bali Isle wallpaper is one of my favorites and I just love how designer Jill Unger paired it with Quadrille's Petite Zig Zag fabric, a Madeline Weinrib Mandala flatweave rug and Restoration Hardware's rustic Trestle Salvaged Wood Table.  Blue and white is a classic color combination but it feels so modern here with the different shades and patterns. 

My only question...who is Jill Unger? Because I don't know about you but I definitely want to see more of her work!

Ottoman

Sorry for the wave of silence, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed this week and haven't had time to sit down and put together a thoughtful post. I promise to get back in the swing of things asap.

Until then, I thought I would share this gorgeous ottoman that caught my eye while reading the current issue of Martha Stewart.  As for the title of this post, super creative, I know, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about this piece since I tore it out of my mom's magazine this past weekend.  It's probably due to the fact that all I want to do right now is curl up on my couch and watch TV and I think adding an ottoman to a living room instantly makes the space feel cozy. And when it comes to cozy, bigger is better.  I'm guessing this baby could support at least 10 pairs of tired feet. Sounds great, right?  Well it's a  look that can easily be replicated using a thrift store coffee table, some foam and one of the thousands of vintage suzanis available on ebay.  So what do you think....boho chic, or attack of the giant ottoman?

This Weekend

I'll be contemplating making an offer this French Empire-style commode...I can't resist anything with a paw or a lion pull.

Have a good one.

Bold + Bright

Feeling inspired by these incredible looks...

The always stylish Olivia Palermo rocking my coveted Tibi Rococo skirt in Elle Japan and Veronica Swanson Beard's Manhattan Penthouse designed by Thomas Britt.  I posted about the interiors used in the Veronica Beard fashion label lookbook just last week so I was pleasantly surprised when I opened up the October issue of Bazaar and found her lush, vibrantly hued pad.

What a living...

(images via Tibi and Ditte Isager for Bazaar)

Smitten | Hamilton Design Associates

I was gathering inspiration for my very own gallery wall when I came across this space in Hamilton Design Associates' portfolio.  Talk about the perfect mix of art.  The various mediums, sizes and frames add interest and depth to the collection and I love how they arranged the art so that it hangs directly over the traditional wall paneling - it completely modernizes the look and feel of the space.

And lets just take a minute to discuss this dining room and kitchen.  How amazing are those striped chairs and wicker stools - does anyone know who makes them?!?  I'm obsessed with the handle detail and think that these perfectly tailored guys are just what my Portland, Maine project needs.  HELP!

Side note:  Thank you everyone for your kind and encouraging comments yesterday!

A Gorgeous Announcement

One of my favorite things about design is that it bears no boundaries on the language front. So though I don't know a lick of Turkish the image on the cover of the first issue of Vogue Turkey speaks for itself. The simplicity of the front cover, with its limited use of type and loads of negative space, just draws the focus onto what I love most: the dress. Oh the dress. Is it not perfection?  There is something about this gold, bronze and peach color scheme that sucks me in, over and over again.  Above is a design board I put together based on this scheme and the edgy yet elegant Vogue cover.  It's a bedroom design that could be yours...

Yes, that's right, you read correct...It's a bedroom design that could be yours because Kristin Kerr Interiors is officially open for business!

Since graduating from Harrington last fall I have continued to work full-time at my finance job while taking on a couple of design projects both big and small. I've given it a lot of thought and have decided it's time to take the leap. So, if you would like help creating the home of your dreams email me about my design services!